Wrench.



No. 650,742. Patented May 29, IQ'O. E. H. ALLEN.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 1v 650,742, ated May 29, ieo.

Application led September 28, 1899. Serial No. 731,970. (No model.)

.To all tlf/"1,0m t may concern: i

Be it known that I, ELBERT R. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in' Wrenchesg and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of the .present invention is to provide a wrench of the socket type especially designed for removing and replacing axle-nuts without necessitating soiling of the ingers by contact` with the nut when besmeared with tar and aide-grease, said wrench being constructed to admit of the nut-being securely gripped5whereby it will not drop casually from the wrench into the dust and pick up grit, sand, and dust.

The invention also provides an adjustable wrench which can be fitted to different-sized axle-nuts within certain limits, the jaws being closed by a set-screw. j

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details Yof construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description andthe drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are necessarily susceptible of modification, still the preferred" embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the wrench.V Fig. 2 is a perspective view of'the wrench, the pivoted jaw being removed `and reversed. Fig. 3is a longitudinal section.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following vdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The wrench is composed of arelativelyfixed part and a pivoted member, each provided with a recessed portion constituting a jaw, the two jaws being movable, so as to open and close, whereby the implement is adapted to be fitted to different-sized nuts and to grip the latter firmly. The relativelya-shank l, handle 2, and jaw 3, the handle and jaw ,being at opposite ends of the shank The shank lis formed with a longitudinal recess 4, which is open at the end correspond: ing with the jaw 3 and which is closed at the end adjacent to the handle 2. The longitudinal recess 4for1`ns a seat in which is fitted the shank 5 of the relatively-movable member and which shank is provided at its outer end with a jaw 6, which is the counterpart of the jaw 3 and coperates therewith. The jaw 3 is offset from the shank l, forming shoulders 7 at each side of the recess 4 and against which the lateral extensions of the jaw 6 are adapted to bear. A notch 8 is formed in the inner wall of the jaw 3 in line with the recess' '4 and is adapted to receive a tongue or pro'- jection 9 at the jaw end of the shank 5, the purpose of the tongue or projection 9 being to close the lower end of the recess 4 and prevent foreign matter entering therein. The pivoted member consists of the shank 5,which is adapted to fit snugly within the longitudinal recess 4 and which is provided with the jaw 6, the latter projecting beyond the sides of 'theshank, as shown at l0, and adapted to underlap and engage with vthe shoulder 7. The jaw 6 is the counterpart of the jaw 3,the socketrecess therein being of angular formation or any design corresponding to the form of the nut designed to be turned by means of the Wrench. The shank 5 is fitted in the longi tudinal recess 4 and is pivoted therein by means of the pin ll, which passes through corresponding openings formed in the shanks land 5. A spring l2 is located in the recess 4 and normally exerts a pressure to force the jaw 6 away from the jaw 3, whereby the wrench is automatically opened toY receive the nut between the jaws when 'the-latter are released from the adjusting means. The spring 12 is of the dat type and is secured at one end to the shank l, its opposite end being free and adapted to exertan youtward pressure against the lower end of the shank 5.

The jaws 3 and 6 are positively moved together to adapt them to the size of the nut to be gripped therebetween, and suitable means are provided for effecting this result. As shown, the seb-screw 13 is threaded into an opening formed in the handle 2 at a central fixed member consists of a stock comprising point and is adapted to be projected into the IOO upper end of the recess 4 and to come between the shanks 1 and 5. The inner end of the set-screw 13 is approximately of conical form, as shown at 14, to operate against the upper end of the shank 5 by a wedging action, whereby as said set-screw is moved inward and its conical end is crowded against the upper end of the pivoted shank 5 said end will be forced outward and its lower end correspondingly moved inward, thereby causing the jaws to grip the nut received between Ithem. The upper end of the shank 5 is beveled and is provided with a tapering depression 15, which conforms approximately to the tapering end 14 of the set-screw and which constitutes a seat to receive the end 1i of the set-screw when the latter is turned to effect a closing of the jaws upon the axle-nut or part to be gripped thereby.

Vhen it is required to remove a wheel from avehicle, the wrench is fitted to the axle-nut and the latter is gripped between the jaws 3 and 6 by turning home the set-screw 13 after said nuthas been received between the jaws. Then the axle-nut is removed from the axlearm, it is seeurelyhel d by means ofthe wrench and is prevented from accidental dropping to the ground and picking up grit, dust, and other foreign matter. By having the pivoted shank 5 fit snugly in the recess 4 the jaws are well adapted to sustain lateral thrust incident to giving the final turn to the nut when tightening it upon the axle-arm when replaced. By having 'the jaws 3 and G relatively movable t-he wrench can be adapted for use in connection with different-sized nuts and can be caused to grip and hold said nuts when removing them from the parts to which they are fitted or when placing said nuts in position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isl. In a wrencll, a fixed shank having a longitudinal seat at one side, a jaw at one end and an extension at the opposite end formed with a threaded opening in line with the seat, a shank fitted to the said seat and pivoted to the fixed shank intermediate of its ends and having a jaw to cooperate with the stationary jaw, and a set-screw fitted in the aforesaid threaded opening and adapted to exert a lateral pressure against the inner end of the pivoted shank and close the jaws, substantially as specified.

2. In a wrench,a relatively-fixed shank having a jaw at one end and provided in one side with a longitudinal recess and having a notch at the inner end of the jaw in line with said recess, a shank pivot-ed within the said longitudinal recess and provided with a jaw to coperate with the aforementioned jaw and having a tongue to enter the said notch, and a set-screw threaded into an opening formed in the closed end of said recess and adapted to exert a lateral pressure against the upper end of the pivoted shank, substantially as set forth.

3. In a wrench,a relatively-fixed shank having a longitudinal recess in one side and provided at one end with an oifset'jaw forming shoulders at each side of the recess, a shank pivoted within said recess and having a jaw projecting beyond the sides thereof and adapted to underlap the shoulders of the fixed shank, and a set-screw threaded into an opening at the closed end of the recess and adapted to exert a lateral pressure against the pivoted shank, as and for the purpose set forth.

et. A wrench comprising a fixed shank provided at one end with a handle and at its opposite end with a jaw having a longitudinal recess in 011e side, a second shank pivoted within the said longitudinal recess and having a jaw to coperate with the fixed jaw, a spring located in the longitudinal recess and adapted to hold the jaws apart, and a setscrew threaded into the opening provided at the closed end of the recess and adapted to exert a lateral pressure against l[he upper end of the pivoted shank, substantially as set forth.

5. Theherein-deseribedwrenchcomprising a fixed shank having a longitudinal recess in one side, an offset jaw at one end having a notch and its inner end in line with the longitudinal recess and providedI at its opposite end with a handle, a shank pivoted within the said longitudinal recess and provided at its lower end with a jaw having side portions underlapping the shouldered ends of the fixed shank and provided with a tongue to enter the aforesaid notch and having its upper end beveled and formed willi a tapering depression, a flat spring located in the longitudinal recess and secured at one end to the fixed shank and having its opposite end exerting an outward pressure against the lower end of the pivoted shank, and a set-screw mounted in the threaded opening formed in the closed end of the longitudinal recess and exertinga lateral pressure against the pivoted shank, substantially as set forth. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELBERT R. ALLEN. Vi tnesses:

Guo. P. SMITH, M. S. DAvID.

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